Apparatus and method for heat distribution from gas fire

ABSTRACT

A vessel adapted to contain combustible gas flame. An outer housing wall being in surrounding relationship to the vessel. The inner vessel and outer wall being interconnected to one another. The outer wall extending below the inner vessel supports the vessel off the floor surface. Perforation through the vessel allows air to pass from above to below the vessel. Perforation through the outer wall, below the vessel, allows air to pass from the inside to the outside of the outer wall. An air blower forces air from above the vessel, through the perforated vessel, out the perforated outer wall, and to the surrounding area.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/445,836, filed Feb. 23, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outdoor fire-pits, fire-tables and fire-places are used for entertaining where they serve as a gathering focal point. Besides the ambience created by fire, the heat is used for warmth. As outdoor temperatures cool during an evening and as seasons change, the radiated heat becomes more welcome, and can extend the time spent outdoors comfortably. This can be important to businesses such as restaurants, night clubs, and such, who've invested in outdoor fire-pits, fire-tables and fire-places as a means of increasing their customer capacity and resulting revenue. Extending the time spent outdoors is also desirable for residents especially those who live in a relatively cold climate and are forced indoors much of the year due to the cold.

Though structures such as fire-pits, fire-tables and fire-places produce heat for warmth, the heat transfer to the surrounding area that people occupy is primarily radiated. Most of the heat from such structures is transferred upward by convection due to the known fact that heat rises. In fact, as ambient temperatures become colder, even more heat is transferred upward due to the difference in temperature and thus air density between the air heated by the flame, and that of the surrounding air.

As outdoor temperatures drop, the radiated heat becomes more concentrated closer to the flame eventually becoming uncomfortable since a person's body will be too cold or too hot. A means of increasing the heat transfer in a more uniform fashion from the heat source to the surrounding area will enhance the effectiveness of outdoor fire-pits, fire-tables and fire-places in terms of heat used for warmth, and as a result will further extend the time and season businesses and residence can use the outdoors.

SUMMARY

This summary presents several concepts of the invention in general form. This summary is only an overview and not intended to establish or limit the complete scope of the invention. The invention is not dependent on the fire-pit material, size, shape, or color. The term fire-pit is used in general but intended to describe other heat producing structures such as fire-tables and fire-places. The main concept and benefits of the invention can be achieved with various fire-pit configurations. Several configurations are described but are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible configurations.

An object of the present invention is to distribute heat from the flame of a gas fire-pit to the surrounding area. This involves moving heat from the fire-pit flame downward and then outward near the floor. In one fire-pit configuration a vessel adapted to contain combustible gas is positioned within a supporting structure that interfaces the vessel's perimeter. Combustible gas is released on the top side of the vessel where flames and resulting heat is produced. An air passage or plurality of air passages permeates the vessel to allow air flow from above the vessel to below it. Negative air pressure below the vessel forces heated air from above the vessel though the air passages in the vessel, to an air space below the vessel. Once below, positive air pressure forces the heated air from the air space below the vessel to the surrounding area.

In another fire-pit configuration the vessel and surrounding structure form an enclosed air space below the vessel and within the walls of the structure. An air passage or plurality of air passages permeates the vessel's surrounding structure to allow air flow from the enclosed air space below the vessel to the surrounding area. Negative air pressure below the vessel forces heated air from above the vessel though the air passages in the vessel, to an enclosed air space below the vessel where positive air pressure forces the heated air from the enclosed air space through the air passage in the supporting structure to the surrounding area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which case like elements have been given like numbers provide a reference for a detailed understanding of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a 3D, full view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a 3D, cross-section view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a 3D, cross-section view of FIG. 1 from a lower angle.

FIG. 4 a is a 2D, cross-section view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 b is a 2D, cross-section view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a 2D, cross-section view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a 2D, cross-section view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is cross-section view of another embodiment of the present invention with an additional heat conduction element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described below are several illustrative embodiments of the present invention. They are meant as examples rather than limitations on the following claims. Configurations shown in the examples can be combined differently to provide additional examples that are not illustrated. For purposes of this disclosure, the term fire-pit is used to describe other heat producing structures such as fire-place and fire-table.

With reference to FIG. 1-7, the embodiment of the present invention comprises a vessel such as a bowl 2 suitable for containing a gas fire 6. Also comprised in FIG. 1-7 is a supporting structure 1 that interfaces the bowl's perimeter. Also comprised in FIG. 1-7 are air passages 3 permeating the bowl, Also comprised in FIG. 1-7 is a vacuum pump 4 suitable for creating low air pressure within the air space below the bowl 2. Also comprised in FIG. 1-7 are air passages 5 permeating the supporting structure 1.

As used herein, the term bowl 2 includes any concave vessel suitable for containing combustible gas. Such shapes include, but are not limited to, rectangular vessels, square vessels, circular vessels, portions of oblate spheroids, and hemispherical vessels. Bowl 4 may be made of any suitable material for containing combusting gas. Such materials include but are not limited to, steel, stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloy, ceramic, ceramic coated metal, stone, masonry, and cement.

As used herein, combustible gas includes, but is not limited to natural gas and propane gas.

As used herein, supporting structure 1 may be made of any suitable material for supporting the bowl 2. Such materials include but are not limited to, stones, masonry, wood, plastic, fiber board, copper, copper alloys, glass, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, ceramic, ceramic coated metal, cement, or any combination of such materials.

As used herein, the term vacuum pump 4 is intended to mean a motor powered air moving device. Such air moving devices include, but are not limited to, an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, an axial blower, a centrifugal blower, and any other suitable air moving device. A motor is used to power the air moving device may be an electric motor powered by AC or DC current.

In one embodiment, see FIG. 1-4, and FIG. 7, a secondary vessel 7 is attached to and below the bowl 2 creating an enclosed air space between the two vessels. A vacuum pump 4 is attached to the bottom of the secondary vessel 7. When powered on, the vacuum pump 4 generates negative air pressure in the air space between the bowl 2 and secondary vessel 7. FIGS. 4 a, 4 b show the resulting air movement through the bowl 2 air passages 3 created by the negative air pressure. In FIG. 4 a, at the vacuum pump 4 output, positive air pressure is produced in a secondary enclosed air space between the secondary vessel 7, the supporting walls 1, and the base resulting in air movement from this enclosed air space through the supporting wall 1 air passages 5, and to the outer surrounding area 9. FIG. 4 b shows conduit used to channel the air flow from the output of the vacuum pump to the supporting wall air passages 5 and to the outer surrounding area.

In another embodiment, see FIG. 5, one or a plurality of vacuum pump 4 are located at the supporting wall air passage 5. When powered on, the vacuum pump 4 generates negative air pressure in an enclosed air space between the bowl 5, the supporting walls 1, and the base resulting in air movement from this enclosed air space through the supporting wall air passages 5, and to the outer surrounding area 9.

In another embodiment, see FIG. 6, air passage 3 is shown with an extension rising above the base of the bowl 2 such that heated air closer to the proximity of the flame 6 is collected and drawn down as air flow 8 into the air space below the bowl 2.

In another embodiment, see FIG. 7, heat conduction with a suitable material 10 is used to transfer heat from above the bowl 2 where the flame 6 is, to below the bowl 2 where the conducted heat is transferred via convection 11 into the enclosed air space. Air from this air space is moved through the supporting wall 1 air passages 5 by the vacuum pump 4. The material 10 used for heat conduction can be of metal. 

1. An outdoor fire-pit, comprising: a main vessel adapted to contain combustible gas; a plurality of air passages permeating the main vessel; a supporting structure that interfaces the main vessel's perimeter; and a vacuum pump forcing air through the plurality of air passages of the main vessel and into the surrounding fire-pit area;
 2. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 1, wherein a lower secondary vessel is attached to the main vessel creating an enclosed air space between the two vessels.
 3. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure and its base are attached to the main vessel creating an enclosed air space between the two.
 4. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump comprises a motorized fan; the motor is chosen from the group consisting of: an AC motor, a DC motor, and an air motor; and the fan is comprises a bladed air-moving device.
 5. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 3, wherein a plurality of air passages permeate the supporting structure allowing air flow from the inner air space to the surrounding fire-pit area.
 6. The outdoor fire-pit vessel of claim 2, wherein an air passage permeates the secondary vessel; and a vacuum pump is attached to the secondary vessel at the air passage such that air can be moved by the pump from above to below the secondary vessel.
 7. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 3, wherein a vacuum pump is attached to the supporting structure at the air passage such that air can be moved by the pump from within the supporting structure into the surrounding fire-pit area.
 8. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 1, wherein the air passage permeating the main vessel is equipped with an extension apparatus that collects air from above the base of the main vessel and channels the air flow downward and through the air passage.
 9. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 2, wherein a contiguous heat conducting material is in communication with the combustible gas flame above the main vessel and in communication with the enclosed air space below the main vessel.
 10. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 3, wherein a contiguous heat conducting material is in communication with the combustible gas flame above the main vessel and in communication with the enclosed air space below the main vessel.
 11. The outdoor fire-pit of claim 9, wherein the heat conducting material transfers heat from the flame via conduction down to the enclosed air space below the main vessel where the resulting heated air is moved to the surrounding fire-pit area by a vacuum pump. 